Device for operating on containers



J.L.FERGUSON. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED MN. 25, 19W. RENEWED MAR I. 192i. 1,423,098.

PatentedJuly 18, .1922.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I.L.FERGUSO N. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 25,19". REN EWED MAIL H192]. 1,423,098. Patented July 18, 1922 l2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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I 5.1.- I NM J. .L. rmeusou. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, I917- RENEWED MAR. [(1921- 1,423,098. Patented y l2 SHEETS--SHEET 3- J. L. FERGUSON.

. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, I917- m'uswau MAR.'I, 1921.

1,423,09 v Pa ented 518, 1922.

I2 SHEETS- HEET 5.

% m Q AAQU LMML I. L. FERGUSON- DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION HLE'D IAN- 2 51 I917 RENEWED "AR. 1, 92]- 1,423,098.

' J. L. FERGUSON.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. l9l7- ncuawmmn. 1.1921.

Patented July 18, 1922.

12 SHEETS--SHEET 7.

150 .252 jga 1. L. FERGUSON- DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTMNERS. APPLICATION FILED MN. 25, 1911. RENEWED MM!- 1. I921.

Patented July is, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

J. L. FERGUSON.- osvmz ron opsmms ou 'commsns'. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 25, I911- RENEWED MAN; I. 1921- 1,423,.Q98 Patented July 18, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 9- 1; L. nzneuson. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTAINERS. I APPLICATION F/ALED MN. 25, I917- RENEWED MA"- I. I921.

Patented July 18, 1922.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

I. L. FERGUSON. DEVICE FOR OPERATING ON CONTAINERS. APPLICATION min um. 25. m2. nsnswso mm. I921.

' Patented July 18, 1922.

K W WW 2 I'Z SHEETS-SHEET ll.-

MIN

J. L- FERGUSON. DEVICE FOR OPERATING 0N CONTMNERS. v nrrucmqn men um. 25. m1. nznswso mm. 1. 192:.

Patented July 18, 1922 I2 SHEETS-SHEET l2- FATENT @FFME.

JOHN L. FERGUSON, 0F JULIET, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING ON CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent. -Patent"d J l 18, 1922.

Applio ationflled IannarY'ZS, 1917, Serial m5. 144,551. Renewed nm'n 1, 1921. Serial n, 448,744.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. Fnnooson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and .State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Devices for Operating on Containers, of which the following js a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,I forming a part of this s eci'fication.

y invention relates to a evice for operating on containers and more specifically to a machine for placing the .flanged caps in closing position with respect to'containers.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an. improved machine of the character' described which will insure the proper placing of the caps Without injury to the flanges.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow taken in connection with the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which two embodiments. ofmy invention are shown- Fig. l is a side elevation of a containercapping machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

F Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of ig; 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detailed plan view of the mechanism for operating on the caps;

F i.. 8 is a section on the line 88 of F ig.%;' T a Fig. 9 is a. detail side elevation of the mechanism 'for placing the containers on the holders;

Fig. 10 is a detail shown in Fig. 9;

Fig 11 isa detail vertical sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 1, showing the blow-0H device Fig.12 is a detail perspective view of a chain guide;

Figure 13 is a side elevation showing the spring fingers and chain; F Fig. 14 is a section on the line 1414 of i 13- ig. 1 5 is a detail side elevation showing a position the cap and associated parts asplan View of the parts sum'e in their travels;

'Fi 17; v

igs. 19, 2Q, and 21 are detail sectional ole-- Fig. 16 is ajplan view of the parts shown 1nFig.15; v f 1' Fig. 17 is a detail side elevation showing a further advanced position of the'cap and associated parts; Fig. 18 is a section on the line 18-18 of vations showlng progressively the positions assumed by the'c'ap and spring fingers;

Fig. 22 is an axial cross sectional View showing another form of my invention;

Fig. 23 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 22; F i 24 is a section similar to Fig. 22 show- 111% t e arms expanded; and

ig. 25 is a section 'on the line 25-25 of F ig. 22.

eferring to the drawings in detaihand first to Figs. 1 to 21, inclusive, the machine shown comprises a. supporting frame-30,

mechanism 31 for supplying containers to the container holders 33, conveyor mechanism 34 on which the container holders are mounted, mechanism 35 forsupplying caps. 36 adjacent the containers as they I travel, mechanism 37 for receiving the caps from the supply mechanism and placing them in proper closing posit-ion on the con tainers as they travel, pneumatic mechanism 37 for removing the containers, closed at one end, from the holders 33 and placing them open end up on the conveyor 38, a filling mechanism 39 for filling the containersas they are positioned therebeneath on the conveyor 38, mechanism 41) for transferring the filled containers from the conveyor 38 one at a time onto the chairs, supports, or holders 41, and conveying mechanism 42 on which the supports 41 are mounted for carrying the filled containers beneath the capping mechanism.

The conveyor mechanism 34 for the empty containers and the conveyor mechanism42 for the filled containers are substantially the same, and each comprises an endlesschain 43 provided at intervals with brackets 44 to which the holders 33 and 41 are secured, and

a pair of sprocket wheels 45 and 46 over which the chain 43 runs. Each chain 43 is' driven from the sprocket keyed on the shaft- 47 mounted in a bearing 48 supported by the frame 30. Each shaft 47 is driven from the driving belt 49 through a pulley 50 over which the belt runs. a shaft 51 mounted in a bearing 52 on the main frame and on thetracks travel in substantially the same path beneath the cap supplying mechanism 35', the-holders 33 and supports 41 being so spaced and the chains being so timed that the holders and supports will be evenly and alternately spaced as they travel bene-ath'the cap supplying mechanism. The travel of the holders and supports is as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 2. The sprockets 46 are mounted on stub shafts 56 secured on the frame 30 of the machine (Fig. 3). Each "container holder 33 comprises a cylindrical portion 57 over which the cylindrical container fits, an annular flange or shoulder 58 against which the lower edge of the carton rests, a base portion 59 secured to the bracket 44 and a nozzle or passage 60 for directing a blast of air from a nozzle 60 (Fig. 11) to blow the container from the holder. The base portion 59 of the holders 33 and the base portion 60 of the supports 41 are supported in their travel by spaced tracks 61 and 62 in turn supported on brackets 63 and 64. respectively. secured to the frame 30 and tracks and 56, respectively. The holder 33 is recessed at 65 for co-operation with the mechanism for controlling the supply of containers and caps. as hereinafter described. The mechanism 31 for supplying the containers to the holder 33 comprises a tubular chute 66 supplied, in any suitable manner, with containers placed end to end, mechanism 67 controlled by the conveyor mechanism 43 for retaining the containers in the chutes 66 until a holder 33 is in proper position beneath the chute to receive a container and emergency mechanism 68 for preventing an additional container from being supplied from the chute to a holder already supplied with a container (a condition which might exist in case a container had failed to receive a cap. or the blast delivered from the nozzle .60 should fail' to remove the capped container from a holder), the mechanism 68 being controlled from the container remaining on the holder.

The chute 66 is inclined and its lower end is so located that a container held in the lower end of the chute will have its lower inside edge engaged bythe upper end of'a holder 33 in its travel, and will be removed from the chute by said holder and dropped down over the holder until its lower edge engages the flange 58, the chute 66 being cut away at 69 to facilitate this operation.

A finger 70 is secured to the lower end of the chute having a portion 71 located in the path of movement of the containers in the chute to properly position the lowermost container with respect to the holder 33.

The mechanism 67 for retainingthe containers in the chute until a holder 33 is in proper position comprises a vertical rock shaft 72 mounted in a bearing 73, a retaining arm 74 secured to the rock shaft having a portion 75 movable through an opening 76 in the chute 66 into and out of the path of movement of the containers in the chute, a retaining arm 77 alsosecured to the re k shaft and having a portion 78 movable through the opening 79 in the chute into and out ofengagement with the sides of the containers in the chute, an operating arm 80 having a portion located in the path of movement of the holders 33 and a spring 81 secured at one end to the arm 80 and at the other to a screw 82 for normally holding the portion 75 of the arm 74 in the path of the containers in the chute.

The emergency mechanism 68 comprises a vertical rock shaft 83 mounted in a bearing 84, a retaining arm 85 secured to the shaft 83 and having a portion 86 movable through an opening 87in the chute into and out of the path of movement of the container, an operating arm 88 also secured to the shaft 83 and having a portion 89 located in the path of the containers on the holders 33 but so that the holders 33 themselves will clear it, down to the recesses 65 as shown in Fig. 5. The portion 89 of the operating. arm is so located that if a container is accidentally left on a holder 33 as it approaches the chute 66 this container will engage the portion 89 to cause the portion 86 of the retaining arm to enter the opening 87 in the chute, before the holder 33 releases the operating arm 80 permitting the spring 81 to rock the shaft 72 to withdraw the portion 78 of the retaining arm 77 from engagement with a container in the chute. Also the portion 89 of the operating arm is of such extent (see Figs. 2 and 4) that when engaged by a container accidentally left on the holder the portion 86 of the retaining arm will be held beneath the container in the chute until the holder on which the container has been left has operated and released the arm 80.

A pring 89 is provided for returning the operating. arm 88, and suitable stops 89 and 89 are provided to limit the movement of the operating arms 80 and 88, respectively, due to the springs 81 and 89.

The pneumatic mechanism 37*- for removing the cartons from the holders 33 after the caps have been placed on one end of the containers and placing them open end up on the conveyor 38 comprises an arched tube 90 belt 93 exten mes es having one open end 91 (Figs. 1 and 11) located directly above the nozzle 60 and-so that the contalners capped at one end, pass beneath said open end 91 and the other open end 92 positioned above the conveyor 38 (Fig. 6) far enough above the conveyor to permit a container to clear the end of the tube when it rests in the conveyor. suitable mechanism can be employed for causing a blast of air to be delivered through the nozzle 60 just as the nozzle or passage 60 registers therewith, to blow the capped container from the holder up through the tube 90 to cause it to be deposited open end up on the conveyor 38.

The conve or' 38 comprises an endless ding over pulleys 94 and 95 the upper run of the belt trave ing over a support 96 supported on brackets 97 and 98 secured 'to the frame 30. The conveyor 38 is driven from the shaft 51 through a worm 99, a shaft 101 (mounted in bearing brackets 102 secured to the frame 30) on which the wheel 100 is secured, a sprocket 103 secured on the shaft 101, a chain 104 extending over the sprocket 103, a sprocket 105 over which the chain 104 extends, and a shaft 106 to which both the pulley 95 and sprocket 105 are secured. Direction of the travel of the belt is as indicated by the arrow B, Fig. 6.

The mechanism for filling the containers on the conveyorr38 may be of any suitable type and as shown comprises three discharge spouts arranged so that three of the containers can be simultaneously filled, the containers being properly positioned beneath the discharge spouts and held there long enough to be filled by any suitable mechanism (not shown).

The mechanism 40 for transferring the filled containers from the conveyor 38 onto the supports 41 comprisesa revoluble member 107 having a surface portion 108 engageable by the containers in their travel on the belt 93 which holds the containers against forward movement during a part of the revolution of the member 107, said member, however, being recessed as indicated at 109 to permit the containers to move past it during another part of its revolution. This revoluble member is so timed with the supports or chairs 41, that it will allow the container to pass just in time to be deflected by the fixed guide 110 onto one of the supports or chairs41 as it travels along. The sup ports 41 are provided with curved arms 111 secured to supports 112 mounted in the base 60 for holding and positioning the containers on thesupports, and a fixed curved guide 113 opposite the deflecting guide 110 serves to prevent the containers from tipping over asthey are deflected onto the supports 41. Fixed guides 114 may be provided on opposite sides of the belt 93 to prevent the containers from slipping off 'the belt.

Any

The revoluble member 107 is driven from the shaft 101 through the sprocket 115 secured to the shaft 101, the chain 116 extending over the sprocket 115, the sprocket 117 over which the chain 116 extends, and a shaft 118 (mounted in suitable bearings 119 in the bracket 98) to which both the sprocket 117 and the revoluble member 107 are secured. The mechanism 35 for supplying the caps adjacent the travel of the contalners comprises an inclined chute 120 in which the flanged caps are placed in series edge to edge, retaining mechanism 121 controlled by the containers in their travel for preventing caps from being supplied to holders notsupplied with containers, and feed mechanism 122 for assisting in removing the caps from the chute and moving them into the path of the mechanism 37 which places them in proper closing position on the containers.

The retaining mechanism 121 comprises a rock shaft 123 mounted in a suitably supported bearing 124, a retaining arm 12 5 secured to the rock shaft 123 and having a portion 126 movable through an opening 127 in the chute 120, into and out of the path of the caps in the chute, and an operating arm 128 also secured to the shaft 123 and having a portion located in position to be engaged and operated by the containers on the holders 33 (Figs. 4 and 5) but so that if one of the holders should not be provided with a container the holder itself will clear the operating arm, due to the recesses as shown in Fig. 5. A spring 128 serves to normally hold the operating arm 128 in the path of the containers. The arms 125 and 128 are'so positioned that when a container engages and operates the arm 128 the portion 126 in the arm 125 will be withdrawn 105 from the path of the caps. The feed mechanism which assists in removing the caps from the chute 120 comprises a friction feed wheel or roller 122 (having a portion extending through an opening 130 in the chute 110 120 in position to engage the caps 36 as they are released from the retaining arm 125) secured to a shaft 131 mounted in bearings 132 in a swinging or floating bracket 133 pivoted on the shaft 134 mounted in bear- 115 ings on the bracket 135. For preventing the roller 122 from dropping too low an adjustable stop is provided on which the floating bracket 133 may rest comprising a screw 136 threaded through a boss 137 on 120 the bracket 135 and engaging the other side of the bracket 133 to prevent it from dropping too low. The feed wheel 122 is driven from the shaft 101 through the sprocket 138 secured on the shaft 101, a chain 139 extend- 125 extending over the sprocket 141, a sprocket 18) 143 over which the chain 142 extends, and the shaft 131 to which both the sprocket 143 and the feed wheel 122 are secured.

* The mechanism 37 for receiving the caps from the supply mechanism (just described) and placing them on the containers comprises a pair of chains 144 and 145 constructed to travel along with the conveyors 3443 but inclined somewhat with respect thereto (Figs. 1, 3 and 8) and a series of sets of yielding spring guide fingers 146 carried b the chains 144145, which fingers in t eir travel receivethe caps from the'chute 120 as they are fed therefrom by the feed wheel 122 (Fig. 15), and surround and travel along with the cartons on the co nveyors 34-43 and downwardly with respect thereto due to the inclination of the chains 144-145 (Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21), to slip the flanges 147 of the caps 36 down over the tubular cartons 32. As the friction between the spring fingers 146 and the flanges 147 might not always be sufiig cient to revent the caps from tilting or slipping rom the fingers additional means 148 may be provided to assist in forcing the caps in place, comprisin a plurality of rollers 149 located in hearings on a suitably.

supported bracket 150. These rollers 149 are constructed and positioned so that the lower faces of those rollers farthest from drical sets on the chains-144145, these chains being so timed that the sets on one chain come" opposite the sets on the other chain on -the adjacent runs of the two chains to form together a circular arrangement of the spring fingers for extending within the flange of the cap and surrounding the container. These semi-cylindrical sets of fingers are formed by mounting' the fingers on a pair of arcuate arms 151 (Fig. 14). secured to extensions 152 on the links 153 of the chains 144-145. Each of the chains 14% 145 runs over two sprockets 154155, each sprocket 154 'being secured to an inclined shaft 156 rotatable in a suitably supported bearing 157 and connected to the s aft 47 from which. it is driven by means of a universal coupling 158 which permits the inclination of the shaft 156. Each sprocket 155 is mounted on a pin 159 in a suit-able bracket 160. Each of the chains 144-145 is provided with inner and outer tracks 161 and 162 respectively between the sprockets 154155 the inner tracks 161 off-setting the chains with respect to a plane through the axes of the sprockets 154155 and the outer tracks in-setting the chains with respect to said plane. As previously described the guides 55 and 56 off-set both sides of the chains 43 with respect to the planes through the containers to be readily placed on the.

holders on the outside runs of the chain 43 without interference from the spring fingers. Also the tracks 55 and 161 are so arranged that when the chains 43, 144 and 145 leave these tracks the chains 43 will diverge gradually and the chains 144 and 145 will also diverge gradually. From this it follows that the yielding fingers 146 on the chain 145 will gradually draw away from the containers on the holders 33 and the yielding fingers on the chain 144 will gradually draw away from the containers on the chairs 141.

As the change in direction of the chains at the points where they leave the tracks is slight there will be no considerable relative angular movement between the spring finger supporting arms 151 and the holders 33 and chairs 41 at these points, and consequently little tendency for the spring fingers or the spring'arms to dig into the containers. 1

In order to prevent the .chains 144-145 from slipping out of the tracks 162 the latter are provided with retaining flanges 163 which resist the tendency of the chains to pull out of the tracks. For removin the filled and capped containers from the c airs 41 the curved deflectors 164 may be provided located in the path of these containers for deflecting them onto any suitable support 165.

The operation of this machine is as fol lows. Power is applied through the belt 49 to drive the conveyor 34 for carrying the empty containers under the capping mechanism, the conveyor 38 for carrying the containers under the filling mechanism 39, transfer mechanism 40 for transferring the filled containers onto the chairs 41, the conveyor 43 for carrying the filled containers under the capping mechanism, the feed wheel 122 for feeding the caps from the chute 120 and the chains 144145 carrying the yielding fingers 146 through the transmission mechanism previously described. As an empty holder 33 approaches the container chute 66 it engages the arm 80 of the container retaining mechanism 67 and moves it against the tension of the spring 81 to cause the portion 78 of the arm 77 to move through the opening 79 to engage the side of a container in the tube and the portion 7 5 of the arm 74 to move out of the path of the containers in 'the portion 71 of the retaining finger 70, the arm 77 meanwhile holding the succeeding container against movement. Then as the holder 33 advances its upper portion engages the inside lower edge of the lowermost container and moves it along as indicated in do ted lines (Fig. 9) until it drops down over the holder and its lower edge engages the shoulder 58. As the holder'with the container in place approaches the capping mechanism the container engages the operating arm 128 of the cap retaining mechanism 121 and moves it against the tension of the spring 128 to move the portion 126 of the retaining arm 125 out of the path of the caps in' the chute. The lowermost cap then moves down in the chute and is engaged by the feed roll 129 which feeds it downwardly until the flange of the cap is in position to he engaged by the'spring fingers 146 (Fig. 15). As the container holder continues to advance the spring fingers 146 which surround the container and extend above it receive the cap from the chute, the flange of the cap surrounding the upper ends of the fingers.

Due to the inclination of the chains 144145 with respect to the conveyors 34-42 the spring fingers 146 will radually 4 move downward along the sides 0? the containeras the container advances carrying the cap along with them until the top of the cap engages the upper edge of the container, (Figs. 18, 19 and 20). As the container continues to advance the spring fingers will he withdrawn from between the flange of the cap and the sides'of the carton leaving the cap in proper position on the container. The rollers 149 assist in forcing the cap in position. As the container with the cap on its upper end continues to advance it comes into position beneath the open end 91 of the tube 90 and above the nozzle 60 which at the proper time delivers a blast of air to the passage 60 to blow the capped container into and through the tube 90 from whence it is deposited open end up on the belt 98. The belt 93 carries the container closed at its lower end beneath the filling machine 39 where it is filled. The container is then carried by the belt 93 until the side of the container engages the surface 108 of the transfer mechanism 40 where it is held until the member 107 has revolved to a position in which the recess 109 comes opposite the container, permitting the belt to carry the container forward along the guide 109 which deflects the container from the belt onto one of the chairs 41 which is properly timed with respect to the revoluble member 107. The filled container is then carried on the chair 41 beneath the capping mechanism when the cap is placed on its upper end in the manner just described in connection with the empty container. The filled and plate 174; to the capped container is then removed from the chair 4:1 by the deflector 164: onto the support in case the holder 33 or chair 41-11 as it comes beneath the capping mechanism is not supplied with a container no cap will be supplied this holder as the operating arm 128 of the retaining mechanism 121 is so located that it will not be actuated by the empty holder or chair. in case one of the holders 33 should be already supplied with a container as it approaches the container supply mechanism 31 no additional container will be supplied to this holder as the container already supplied to the holder will I power driven machine or may be used as a hand device for placing caps on containers. The device shown comprises a guiding and supporting member 166 to which are pivoted in circular arrangement a plurality of arms 167. and an actuating guiding and cap engaging member 168 movable toward and from the member 166 for moving the fingers 167 from the position shown in Fig. 22 to the position shown in Fig. 24 and vice versa. The guiding and supporting member166 comprises a circular plate 169 having its outer edge out and bent to form radially entending fingers 170 each having anopening through which extends a circular wire 171 which also extends through openings formed in the arms 167 to form a pivotal. support for the latter, and a guiding or spacing plate 172 for the ends of the fingers 167having radial slots 173 in which the ends of the fingers work. These plates 169-172 may be fixedly secured together in any suitable manner as by soldering. The actuating and guiding member 168 comprises acircular plate 174 having its outer edge out and bent to form radially extending fingers 17 5, each finger having an opening through which a circular wire 176 extends which wire also extends through angular slots 177 in the arms 167, and a guiding or spacin plate 178 having radial slots 179 in which the arms 167 work. These plates 178-174;- are fixedly secured together in any suitable manner as by soldering. The supporting member 166 is fixedly secured to a rod 180 by means of a pin 181 extending through the rod 180 and through the sleeve 182 to which the plate 172 is secured. The actuating member 168 is fixedly secured to a sieeve 183 (slidahle on the rod 180) in any suitable manner as by riveting or soldering th sissy i 183. The arms 167 are provided with yielding flexible bent fingers 185'the ends of which are to be positioned inside of the flange of the cap and which slip down over the container. The actuating member 168 in addition to actuating the arms 167 also aids in pressing the cap in place on the container b engaging the top of the cap. Each slot 177 comprises a portion 186 along which the wire 176 slides to move the arms 167 from the expanded to the contracted position and a portion 187 extending at such an angle that movement of the, wire 176 in this part of the slot doesnot materially change the position of the arm 167, this latter part of the slot being provided to permit proper withdrawal of the fingers 185 from between the flange of the cap 188 and the sides of the container 189 after the cap has been properly placed on the container. The pin 181 engages slots 190 in the sleeve 183 which construction prevents relative rotation between the rod 180 and the sleeve 183.

Theoperation of this form of my invention is as follows: Assumin that the device is to be used as a manual y operated machinethe sleeve 183 is grasped in one hand and the rod 180 in the other and relative movement of the sleeve and rod is effected to bring the arms 167 to expanded position (Fig. 24:). The cap 188 is then placed in position as indicated in Fig. 24, the device being inverted if desired to facilitate this positioning, and relative movement between the rod 180 and sleeve 183 is effected to bring the arms 167 to contracted position and the cap to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 22, with its flange surrounding the ends of the fingers 185. The device carrying the cap is then brought in position over the open end of a container with the fingers 185 surrounding the open end of the container. The device is then moved downward, the fingers 185 slipping down over the end of the container and carrying the cap 188 into position. The member 168 assists in pressing the cap into place by engaging the top of the cap and forcing it down on the container. After the cap is partly in place on container the fingers 185 are withdrawn from between the flange of the cap and the sides ofthe container by downward movement of the rod 180 which moves the fingers 185 downward without causing them to expand as long as the wire 176 engages the portion 187 of the slot 177. By the time the wire 176 engages the portion 186 of the slot 177 the fingers 185 will have been completely withdrawn from between the flange of the cap and the sides of the container.

Further downward movement of the rod 180 will cause the arms 167 to expand to the position shown in Fig. 24: permitting .the whole device to be removed from the capped container leaving the cap n position.

While I have described but two embodiments of m invention it is obvious that many modi cations therein may occur to those skilled in the art and I desire, therefore, that the same be limited only by the showing of the rioi' art and by the scope of the appende claims, it being apparent that-many changes in the hereinbefore mentioned apparatus ma be made and the apparatus still'be witl iin the spirit of said claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is a 1. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers a guide member for traveling along with the containers and means whereby said guide member is positioned between the inner surfaces of the flanges of the closures and adjacent portions of the containers to guide the closures and the containers in their relative movement.

2. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers compris' ing a conveyor for the containers, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the containers and means whereby said guide fingers are positioned between the flanges of the closures and adjacent portions of the containers, for controlling the relative movement between the closures and the containers.

3. A machine for placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with their flanges surrounding the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers, a set of yielding guide fingers traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, and means whereby said fingers are positioned between the flanges of said caps and the adjacent tubular portions of the containers, for COntrolling the relative movement between the caps and the containers.

4. A machine for placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with their flanges associated with the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers, a set of yielding guide fingers traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, means whereby said fingers are positioned bet-ween the flange of the cap and the adjacent tubular portion, for controlling the relative movement between the caip and the container, and means for supplying caps adjacent said containers.

5. A machine for placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with their flanges associated with the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the J containers, a set. of yielding guide fingers esa,

traveling along with the containers on the conveyor to be positioned between the flanges of the caps and said tubular portions, and means for withdrawing said fingers'from between said flanges and said tubular portions.

6. A machine tor placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with their flanges associated with the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers. and a set of yielding guide fingers traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, and means for causing said guide fingers to be positioned between the flanges of the caps and said tubular portions and to move from a position in which they extend beyond the ends of said tubular portions, to a position in which they donot extend beyond the ends of said tubular portions.

7. A machine for placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with'their flanges associated with the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers, a set of yielding guide fingers traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, and means whereby said fingers are positioned between the flanges of the caps and saidtubular portions, for controlling the relative movement between said' caps and said tubular. ortions, said containers and fingers travellng in substantially straight lines oblique to each other during a portion of said travel.

8. A machine for placing peripherally flanged caps in closing position with their flanges surrounding the tubular portions of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers, a set of yielding guide fingers traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, means whereby said fingers are positioned between the flanges of the caps and said tubular portions, and .means whereby said containers and fingers travel. in substantially straight lines oblique to each other during a portion of said travel and to cause said fingers to move from a position in which they extend beyond the ends of said tubular portions, to a position in which they do not extend beyond said ends.

51A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect tothe openings of containers comprising an endless chain conveyor for the containers, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, means whereby said fingers are positioned between vthe flanges of the closures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, and means or sup- ,oorting said sets comprising a second endl ss chain,

one 7 10. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising an endless chain conveyor for the containers, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the, containers on the conveyor. means whereby said fingers are positioned between the flanges of the closures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers. means for supporting said sets comprising a second endless chain, and two sprockets over which said second endless chain runs the axes of all of said sprockets lying substantially in a common plane. 7

11. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising anendless chain conveyor for the con talners, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the containers on the conveyor, means whereby said guide fingers are positioned between the flanges of the closures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, means for supporting said sets comprising a second endless chain, two sprockets over which said second endless chain runs, the axes of all said sprockets lying substantially in a common plane, and guides for portions of said chains between said sprockets.

12. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising an endless chain conveyor for the containers, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the corn tainers on the conveyor, means whereby said guide fingers are positioned between the flanges of the closures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, means for supporting said sets comprising a second endless chain, two sprockets over which said second endless chain runs, theatres of all said sprockets lying substantially in a common plane, and guides for portions of said chains between said sprockets, said guides being positioned so that the guide fingers travel alongside the containers during a portion of the travel as they move away from said contains 13. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with r spect to the openings of containers compris ing an endless conveyor for the containers, driving means for the Conveyor, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the containers on the conveyor to be positioned between the flanges of the closures and portions of the contamers adjacent the openings, means for supporting said sets comprising a second endless conveyor and driving means therefor, the axis of all said driving means lying substantially in a common plane, and guides for portions of said conveyors between said driving means, said guides being positioned so that the guide fingers travel alongside the containers during their travel between the driving means on one side of said plane and so that the guide fingers will move away from said containers during the travel between the driving means on the other side of said plane.

14,. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising an endless chain conveyor for the containers, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along with the containers on the conveyor to be positioned between the flanges of the closures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, means for supporting said sets comprising a second endless chain, and two sprockets over which said second endless chain runs, the axes of all said sprockets lying substantially in a-co-mmon plane, and ides for portions of said chains between said sprockets, saidiguides off-setting both chains from planes through the sprocket axis on one side of said plane and off-setting the conveyor chain and insetting the guide finger chain with respect to said plane on the other side of said plane.

15. A. machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing'position with respect to the openings of containers comprising an endless chain conveyor for the containers, two sprockets over which the chain runs, a plurality of sets of yielding guide fingers for traveling along the containers on the conveyor to be positioned between the flanges of the closures and ortions of the containers adjacent the openings, meansfor supporting said sets comprising a second endless chain, and two sprockets over which said second endless chain runs, the axes of all said sprockets lying substantially in a common plane, and guides for portions of said chains between said sprockets off-setting the conveyor chain with re ect to said plane and insetting the guide nger chain with respect to said plane.

16. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising an endless conveyor for the containers, driving means for the conveyor, a plurality of Sets of yielding guide fingers for travelmeans whereby said guide members are eas es ing along the containers on the conveyor to be positioned between the flanges of the 016 sures and portions of the containers adjacent the openings, and means for supporting said sets comprlsing a second endless conveyor, said conveyors traveling in planes oblique to each other to cause said fingers to. be withdrawn from between said flanges and containers.

17. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers guide members for traveling along with the containers, means whereby said guide members are positioned between the inner surfaces of the flanges of the closures and the portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, and means for supplying the closures adjacent the containers.

18. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers guide members for traveling along the contamers, means whereby said guide members are positioned between the inner surfaces of the flanges of the closures and the .portions of the, containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, and means for supplying the closures in the path of movement of said guide member.

19. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers guide members for traveling along with the containers, means whereby said guide members are positioned between the inner surfaces of the flanges of the closures and the portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, and means for supplying the closures with their flanges in the path of said guide member.

20. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers guide members for traveling along with the containers,

0- sitioned between the inner surfaces of Ehe flanges of the closures and the portions of the containers adjacent the openings, for controlling the relative movement between said closures and containers, and means for forcing said closures into closing position.

21. A machine for placing peripherally flanged closures in closing position with respect to the openings of containers comprising a conveyor for the containers guide m e s f r raveling along wit the c n: 

